JINGLE $ELLS

After the loss of his wife, a father moves his family to stay with his sister in Wyoming, hoping that the move would lift their spirits.

Once there, his two children enrol at the local school which is preparing for their annual Christmas Concert. But elsewhere in America, someone has copyrighted the word Christmas, ensuring no-one can use it without first paying for the right.

Offended by the commercialism, the school goes ahead without paying the toll. What harm can come to a small school in such a small town?

Plenty apparently, as the new copyright owner brings her legal team to Jackson to steal Christmas.

The father, who didn’t have the strongest faith before his wife died, and now counts himself as a non-believer, is asked to defend the school. What will he do?

Jingle $ells was written by Chris Gordon and features eight new songs by Chris and 10 other (royalty free) Christmas favourites. It leans heavily into pantomime, encouraging the audience to join in at several parts of the show, and looks at the differences between an Aussie and an American Christmas, and the difficulties dealing with missing loved ones at Christmas.

The 2021 production was not able to go ahead, and in fact was cancelled due to the pandemic at the first rehearsal… just after the cast had been selected but before rehearsals were underway. It was poised to be a truly international experience with the Mayor of Jackson Wyoming keen to lend a hand and potentially for schools on both sides of the Pacific to connect.

In July 2026 the Crookwell Amateur Dramatics Society announced their intention to produce the musical and host it’s premiere from November 21, 22, 28 an 29 at Crookwell Memorial Hall.

WHO’S WHO IN JINGLE $ELLS

Here are some of the people you’ll meet in Jackson Hole.

DANIEL TAYLOR: Father of Kitty and Jake. After his wife days in a car accident in Australia, Daniel moves his family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where his sister lives to get away from the memories and make a clean start. A trained lawyer, Daniel sat for the Wyoming bar and is practicing law in his new home.

KITTY TAYLOR: Daniel’s oldest child, a senior High School student.

JAKE TAYLOR: Daniel’s youngest child. He has been suffering traumatic mutism after seeing his mother die, but is able to sing even though he can’t talk.

VANESSA TAYLOR: Daniel’s sister. She has been living in Jackson Hole for some time and works there as an accountant. Daniel and his children have moved in with her.

MRS HANNAH PETERSON: A teacher and the choir mistress at Saint Nicholas’ Parish Comprehensive School. A South African by birth, Hannah is a devout Christian and the annual school Christmas concert is her pride and joy. 

MYOPICA HORTON-SMYTHE: A mean-spirited business woman who somehow found a way to copyright the word Christmas, so that now nobody and no organisation can use the term without paying her royalties.

THE JANITOR: The custodian of St Nicholas’ school. He has a habit of summarising what’s been happening and talking to the audience.

HENCHMAN 1: One of Myopica’s henchmen.

HENCHMAN 2: Another of Myopica’s henchmen.

LISA: Kitty’s closest friend at school.

RICHIE: An annoying member of the choir and Kitty’s main antagonist.

RICHIE’S DAD: Not a nice guy.

RANDOM RACHEL: One of the school kids with a penchant for saying random things.